Hi friends!

I apologize for the delay of the continuation of this story. Christmas really kept me extra busy despite having a break from my internship and school. Now that festivities have died down, I have time to write! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review. Thanks again for MaidenMoonshine for her superb editing skills.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year and many blessings in 2020!!

Chapter Nine

Tali awoke Saturday morning in Ziva's bed at Grandpa Gibbs's house to the muffled sounds of activity downstairs.

She turned and saw Aunt Abby was still asleep with her favorite hippo, Bert, near by. Seeing Bert motivated Tali to dig under her covers to find Max. She held him close and absentmindedly stuck her thumb in her mouth, sucking softly.

Tali was beginning to miss her Ima and Abba. It had been three days and the family was never far apart for that long. Plus, she was worried about what her parents would have to say about her behavior and subsequent spanking. Would Abba spank her again? Tali shifted in the bed as tears started to form. She wanted her parents and at the same time she dreaded having to tell them she had stolen.

Tali couldn't take her lonely feelings anymore. She slipped out of bed with Max and crawled into bed with Abby, pushing Bert aside so that she could snuggle into her aunt's warm embrace.

The movement woke Abby and she wordlessly made room for Tali and Max, tucking the covers back around them. She may have been half asleep, but she noticed the tears in Tali's eyes threatening to fall.

"Hey baby," she murmured, gently running her fingers through Tali's hair that was so much like Ziva's. "What's the matter?"

"I want Ima and Abba," Tali answered woefully, letting tears fall in her little cheeks.

Abby hugged the girl tighter and kissed her hair.

"I know. They'll be home tomorrow night, honey. Right now they need some mommy and daddy time before your little sister comes. Remember?"

Tali nodded slowly, burrowing further into Abby's embrace. She was feeling a whole lot better now that she wasn't alone in bed. Aunt Abby always gave the best snuggles, too.

"Aunt Abby?"

"Yeah, hon?"

"Grandpa Gibbs said he's going to tell Ima and Abba that I stole something. Do you think Abba will spank me again? Because I don't know if I can take it!"

Abby smiled a bit at Tali's dramatic declaration. But she also sympathized with her young niece and firmly believed that Tali had already been punished and the matter should be closed.

"I'm sure Tony – I mean your Abba - won't spank you again," Abby said confidently to comfort Tali. "I can practically guarantee it."

Tali smiled up at her aunt but the two were interrupted before she could respond.

"Abigail, you cant guarantee anything of the kind," Gibbs said in a firm voice as he entered the room. "Whatever happens is up to Ziva and Tony to decide as Tali's parents. You know that."

Abby wanted to say more but Gibbs's look stopped her. Gibbs suggested Tali head downstairs and they would join her in a minute for breakfast.

The little girl, having forgotten her homesickness and worry, easily agreed and hopped out of the room with Max in tow. Gibbs made sure Tali was downstairs before he said more.

"Abs, you can't promise Tali something you can't deliver," Gibbs said gently, brushing the young woman's fringe out of her face. "Tali did something wrong and has to face the consequences. Part of that is telling Ziva and Tony what happened and accepting any punishment they deem appropriate – including a spanking."

Abby frowned. She did not like where this conversation was going.

"But Gibbs," she said, with frustration in her tone. "You already handled it! There's no way Tony is going to spank her again after he knows you did! That would just be crazy!"

Abby hopped out of bed and began rustling through her drawers to find clothes for the day. She kept her back to Gibbs until he came close to her and gently spun her around to face him.

"You're right," Gibbs said. "It's unlikely. But my point, is that you can't make her a promise that isn't your place to make. Plus, you're the adult here Abs. You gotta back up the other adults. You know none of us would ever hurt Tali or act outside of her best interests."

At that point, Abby's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she became hyper interested in the floor of her bedroom.

"You're right, Gibbs," Abby said quietly. "I just hate to see her sad. And the crying? Ugh."

Gibbs enveloped Abby in a hug, kissing the top of her head before he pulled away to meet her eyes again.

"I know, Abs. Just trust me, okay? I told Tali I would recommend that Tony and Ziva do nothing more. Now how about we stop worrying and go have breakfast?"

Abby nodded hesitantly and Gibbs headed for the door so she could get ready. They had big plans for Tali for the day.

"Why worry?" Abby mumbled as she pulled a pair of leggings from her drawer. "It's not you with your butt on the line."

"Wanna repeat that, Abs?" Gibbs said from the hallway.

"Nope!" Abby responded. "Love you, Gibbs!"

Gibbs had to smile at Abby's answer. She never did seem to recall how good his hearing was. He just shook his head and headed downstairs, hoping Tali hadn't eaten breakfast without them.

—NCIS—

Ziva and Tony walked through Jardin des Plantes holding hands and taking in the beautiful flower gardens after lunch.

Tony had insisted Ziva take a nap after they ate, seeing how stressed and tired she looked from the morning. Ziva had only minimally fought the idea of a nap since she truly was exhausted.

Now as they strolled past the gardens and watched others enjoying the park, Ziva was secretly grateful for the mid-day rest.

It was then that the couple came across an artist doing sketches. They decided to sit for a drawing as a souvenir of their visit, sitting and holding hands in front of the artist – Ziva with one hand on her baby bump. The weather was crisp but not cold and the couple were positively glowing in happiness.

"Love you, Zi," Tony whispered in her ear as they sat for the drawing.

"I love you, Tony," she responded. "Thank you for this trip. And everything."

—NCIS—

Tali, Gibbs and even Abby were dragging a little bit as they re-entered Gibbs's house that evening. It had, in fact, been an action packed day to keep Tali busy and keep her mind off her parents.

They had gone to the zoo, the park, lunch at one of Tali's favorite local restaurants – unsurprisingly it was a pizza place – the library for story time, and last but not least, the grocery store to get snacks for movie night.

Tali immediately ran over to the couch and began playing with the stuffed tiger Aunt Abby had bought her at the zoo to be a friend with Max. The two stuffed animals were deep in conversation in Tali's hands by the time Abby and Gibbs set down all the bags from a long day out.

"Tali," Gibbs called putting from the kitchen. "Go get your pajamas on before we start the movie."

"I wanna stay in my dress," Tali hollered back, before resuming her play.

Gibbs stopped what he was doing in the kitchen and went over to where Tali was on the couch.

"That wasn't a suggestion, young lady."

Tali looked up at Gibbs's tone. She rubbed her eyes furiously for a minute.

"But I love my dress! Please?"

Gibbs looked down at his granddaughter and knew she had to be exhausted after the day they had. He knelt down next to her so they were eye to eye.

"Tali, I want you to put on your pjs now so that you don't have to do it when you are sleepy after the movie," he explained, although he left out the fact that he was sure she wouldn't last 30 minutes into the film. "You can wear another dress tomorrow if you like. But it's time for pajamas now."

Tali looked at Gibbs and even with his infamous gut he wasn't sure if Tali would agree or go into a full-blown tantrum. It could go either way considering how tired Tali was at that point.

"Okay," Tali said simply, hopping off the couch and kissing Gibbs before running upstairs.

Gibbs sighed in relief and turned around to see Abby had witnessed the whole thing.

"Good job, Gibbs. I was sure she was gonna scream."

"Withhold your praise," Gibbs said, slowly getting up from his squatting position. "One down and one to go. You should get in your pjs too."

Abby just stuck out her tongue at her surrogate dad and laughed before heading for the stairs. There was no way she was going to throw a fit after her six-year-old niece hadn't, she thought as she climbed the stairs. At least not tonight!