Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS
Tali squealed happily as Delilah wheeled her chair around the apartment, Tali sitting on her lap. Delilah had been in Dubai when Tali was born, having only see photos of the little girl. Tali was everything that Tim said she was; a happy, cheery, sweet little girl, who had the power to even make Gibbs smile. Hearing the way Tim talked about Tali made Delilah think that having children in the future was a possibility, not just a dream.
Tim and Delilah were having dinner with Tony, Ziva and Tali. It had been three weeks since Delilah had returned fully from Dubai, and had successfully taken over as team leader. Tim and Delilah hadn't moved in yet, Delilah living in temporary accommodation. They need time for Delilah to adjust to her new role, and for each of them to organise their own stuff.
It had been Ziva's idea to invite them over for dinner. She had missed Delilah in the year that she had been away. This was the first time that Tony, Tim and Ziva were in successful relationships. Plus, Delilah was dying to meet Tali.
They sat down to dinner. Ziva, Tim, Delilah and Tony, with Tali in between Ziva and Tim. Dinner was some pasta dish that Ziva liked to cook regularly. She did the majority of the cooking their relationship, mainly because she enjoyed. Tony wasn't complaining. His idea of cooking was ordering pizza or nipping to the store on the way home from work for some frozen meal.
Tim, Tony and Ziva started to reminisce about old cases; when they went to Stillwater and met Jackson Gibbs for the first time; whenever Diane, Fornell and Gibbs were forced to work together; Ziva's first official case with NCIS; when Tony and Ziva found out about Deep Six.
'I was right, though' said Tim. 'Wasn't I?' he gestured towards Tony and Ziva.
'Tim' said Delilah, hitting him slightly on the shoulder. Everyone laughed. Tim quickly turned the conversation to cases before Ziva joined the team; when Tony, unbeknownst to him, kissed a transwoman; or the meat puzzle case, and Tony had to look after Ducky's mother and her poodles.
'Oh, you must have loved that' said Ziva, laughing. Dogs were not Tony's forte.
Just then, something flew past Tim's face. He did a double take as it hit him in the face and landed in his lap.
'What was that?' asked Tony, laughing. Tim picked up a piece of pasta and held it up. He turned to Tali.
'Did you throw this at me?' he asked, putting the pasta down next to her bowl. Tali giggled and gave him her best, sweetest smile.
'Tali' said Ziva, surprised at Tali's behaviour. 'Why did you throw pasta at Tim?'
'Zi, she's not going to be able to answer you' said Tony. He too was surprised, if also a little proud. Tali giggled again and threw another piece towards Tony, though it didn't reach him.
'Tali, no' said Ziva. 'We eat our food. We do not throw it.' Tali gave her Ima a sad look. 'That might work on your dad, but it will not work on me.'
'Hey' cried Tony, a little put out.
'Tony, Tali is nine months old and has you wrapped around her little finger' said Tim. Delilah and Ziva laughed.
'It's true Tony' said Delilah. 'I've known Tali two and half hours, I already can tell she has you eating out of the palm of her hand.' Tali flung another piece of pasta towards Tony, this time hitting him in the face.
'What is this?' asked Tony. 'Gang up on Tony night?'
'Tali, no more' said Ziva firmly. She took the bowl of pasta away from her. Tali started to whimper slightly. Ziva unbuckled her and pulled her out of her highchair.
'I think someone might be getting a little tired' said Tony, stroking Tali's hair.
'She's having a slight sleep regression' Ziva explained to Tim and Delilah. 'She's crawling now, and starting to make more recognisable sounds.' Tali started crying. Tony took her from Ziva, Ziva fetching Doggy from the sofa.
'Come on, Bean. Let's go and read a story.' He took Tali to the tiny nursery, and settled down to read her favourite books.
Eventually, Tali seemed to start to settle. Ziva asked if Tim and Delilah wanted desert.
'No, it's OK. We better be going' said Tim, after a quick, silent, mind reading discussion with Delilah.
'Dinner was lovely Ziva. Thanks for inviting us' said Delilah, as she hugged Ziva.
'Anytime' replied Ziva.
The next day, Tony and Tim were sitting in the car, waiting for their suspect to make an appearance.
'I'm sorry about the pasta last night' said Tony. Tim shrugged his shoulders.
'It's alright Tony. I've had worse things thrown at me.' Tony chuckled.
'It's this bloody sleep regression she's in' he said. 'It should be over soon. It's been a month since Tali started to crawl.' Tim attempted to look sympathetic.
'You know Tony, you and Ziva are great parents. Anyone can see that. And Tali is as happy as an oyster.' Tony chuckled at the phrase his wife often got mixed up.
'Thanks, McGoo.'
'I'm serious Tony. You are a good father.' Tony looked Tim, appreciatively.
'Thanks, Tim. That means a lot.' Tim smiled. He knew that Tony had worried about repeating his relationship with Senior, with his own children. From what Tim had seen the previous night, it was something that wouldn't happen.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Tony walked into the nursery, yawning. It was Tuesday morning, one of the three days a week that Ziva worked, and Tali went to day care. He flicked on the lamp on the changing table and saw Tali standing up in her crib.
'Ziva!' he cried. 'Ziva, get in here.' Ziva came hurtling in, toothbrush and toothpaste in hand.
'What is it? Is something wrong?' She stopped immediately and looked at Tali.
'She's standing.'
'I can see that Tony.' Everyone was smiling. Tali especially looked very pleased with herself. She leant over the crib and unfortunately Doggy fell out of her hand. Tali started to whimper and Tony darted forward to grab her, before she fell out of the crib, Ziva bending down to pick up Doggy.
'Eem' said Tali, looking at her mother. Ziva and Tony looked at each other in surprise.
'Did I hear her correctly?' asked Ziva.
'Yeah, I think we did.'
'Are you trying to talk, little one?' asked Ziva as she handed Doggy back to Tali.
'Eem.'
'No Tali. Dada. Can you say dada?'
'Eem.'
'Dada.'
'Eem.'
'Tony,' said Ziva, stopping her husband before he said anything. 'This could take forever, and we have to get ready.'
'If we must' said Tony, glumly.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
'I still can't believe that you were read in and I wasn't' said Tim to Ziva. They were walking over to the play park. It was Saturday morning, and Team Gibbs had finally closed the case on the 1979 bombing a couple of days before. Tim and Ziva had gone running, something they had started a few weeks ago, before meeting Tony and Tali at the play park.
'There was nothing I could do Tim. Gibbs read me in because I have worked in Colombia and I speak Spanish.'
'Tony doesn't speak Spanish, or at least very bad Spanish.'
'Hey, I heard that' called out Tony. He was at the swings with Tali. Ziva smiled.
'I do not know why Gibbs did not read you in, Tim. Abby was not read in either.'
'I know, but that was to maintain the chain of evidence.'
'Have you asked Gibbs why he did not read you in?' Tim paused.
'No, I haven't.'
'Then unless you ask him, you will never know why.' They stood next to the swings as Tony pushed Tali.
'Yay!' cried Tali. Ziva and Tim laughed.
'Are you having fun, motek?' asked Ziva.
'Yes, I am' replied Tony.
'Believe it or not Tony, I think Ziva was talking to Tali.' Tony grinned as Tali reached up her arms toward Ziva.
'Eem.' Ziva picked Tali out of the swing.
'Is she talking now?' asked Tim.
'A little' said Ziva.
'She hasn't said dada yet' pointed out Tony.
'Much to Tony's dismay' added Ziva.
'Dada' said Tony taking Tali from Ziva. 'Can you say dada?'
'Eem. Eem-a.' Ziva smiled and kissed Tali's cheek.
'That's my girl' Ziva said happily.
Again, I am not a parent, but have spent time with young childen and did some reseach. Hope you enjoyed reading