Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Tali laughed as Ziva tickled her tummy. She was tucked up in her car seat, her beloved Doggy nearby. Ziva continued playing with her daughter, as Tony drove the three of them, plus his father into DC metro area. They were returning from New York, having spent the past couple of days helping Senior pack and move to DC. Senior had found an apartment that was as luxurious as he wanted, but also affordable and close to Tony, Ziva and Tali. Senior was very excited for the move.

They pulled up outside the building that Senior was moving into, the moving van behind them. Two men got out and started to unload the small van. Senior wasn't moving with much as his new place came with basic furniture, but there were a few home comforts Senior refused to live without. His reclining armchair was one of those things.

After what felt like ages, all the boxes and furniture from the van were in the small one bed apartment.

'You know, when we were in New York, it didn't seem quite so many boxes' said Tony, as he gazed over the mountain range of cardboard. 'Are you sure you are going to fit everything, dad?'

'I'm sure' replied Senior. Up in New York, he lived in two bed apartment that was filled to bursting with all the knick-knacks that he had consumed over years of life. Whilst he was packing, Senior had realised that he was downsizing, to a smaller place, that all his belongings wouldn't fit and started to give some things away.

Ziva's phone buzzed.

'That's Abby. Says she'll be here soon. Bringing coffee and doughnuts with her.'

'Good, I'm hungry' said Tony.

'You are always hungry, Tony. I swear Tali has inherited your appetite' said Ziva.

'Well, she's a DiNozzo' piped up Senior. 'And DiNozzo's like good food.' Tony laughed. Tali was sitting on the playmat by the window. Ziva had set it up when they arrived, so Tali had somewhere to play. However, Tali clearly wanted to help unpack and she started to move towards her parents.

'Guys, Tali's crawling' Senior said happily. Tali moved towards her parents. Senior was amazed at his little granddaughter crawling. Ziva had told him about it, showed him the video she had taken, but to actually see it was something else entirely.

Tali stopped at Ziva's feet and reached up with her hands.

'Eem-a' she said, happily. Ziva bent down and picked her up.

'Dada. Can you say dada?' asked Tony. Ziva rolled her eyes slightly, walking over to the playmat and putting Tali down.

'Tony, she will say it when she is ready, not before.' Tony stood and opened up another box to unpack, Ziva joining him.

'Da.' Everyone stopped unpacking and turned to look at Tali. Tony went over and picked up Tali.

'Tali, what did you say?' asked Tony, a grin on his face.

'Da. Eem-a.' Ziva laughed and Senior grinned.

'Dada' repeated Tony

'Da' replied Tali.

'Tony' began Ziva. 'I am not going to listen to the two of you go back and forth like this. It will drive me up the hall.'

'Wall' said Senior and Tony together.

'Whatever' replied Ziva. There was a knock at the door. Abby stood the doorway, her parasol by her side, and carrying a tray of coffee cups and a bag of doughnuts.

'Hey guys, what did I miss?'

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Tony walked into the apartment, chatting to his father over the phone. As a result of packing and unpacking his life, Senior had found some more family photos that he thought Tony might like to have. Tony had requested some a few months, and Senior was only able to send a few things.

'Yeah, sure dad. I can come over, have a look' said Tony as he closed the front door. He walked into the living, dumped his backpack on the floor and his gun in the secure box on the top shelf. Looking around the apartment, Ziva wasn't to be seen, but he could hear her with Tali in the nursery. Tali had caught a cold three days ago at day care. It was her first one, and therefore new territory for all three of them. Ziva had spent quite a bit of time talking to Cassie on the phone last night.

'Tony.' Ziva suddenly came out of the nursery, sounding panicky.

'What is it?' he asked, concerned.

'It is Tali. She's coughing non-stop. Has been for about twenty minutes. I think she is struggling to breathe.'

'What do we do?' asked Tony, panicking. 'Should we go to the hospital?' Ziva was about answer when they heard Senior shouting over the phone.

'Junior!'

'Yes dad.'

'Put me on speaker.' Tony did as he was told. 'Ziva, what's the matter?'

'It is Tali. She has had this cold for the past few of days, and now she is been coughing non-stop, struggling to breathe.' Ziva sounded worried and scared.

'Ziva, listen to me' began Senior over the phone. 'I'm coming over, but in the mean-time, I want you to go into the bathroom. Close the window and door, and turn the shower on to hot. It will create lots of steam to get into Tali's chest. OK?'

Ziva did as she was told, going into the bathroom with Tali. Ten minutes later, Senior arrived. The three adults filled the small bathroom, Tali in Ziva's arms.

'How is she?' asked Senior when he arrived.

'She is still coughing, but I think the steam is helping. Her breathing more regularly' said Ziva, wiping Tali's face. Tony turned to his father.

'How did you know what to do?' he asked. Senior smiled kindly.

'When you were two, Junior you had the croup. Made this horrible, chocking cough. It was the worst sound I have ever heard. Scared your mother half to death. Our next-door neighbour at the time was a retired paediatric nurse. She told us what to do, how the steam could help. Never forgot in case I needed it again. When I heard little Tali coughing on the phone, I knew what to do.'

Tony looked at his father. He rarely spoke of Tony's earlier childhood. Perhaps memories of Joy being ill made Senior want to forget them, not dwell on them. Maybe with Tali around, Senior might start telling more stories.

Tali gave a little cough and turned to look at Tony.

'Da' she said, very quietly.

'Hey Bean' whispered Tony. Ziva passed Tali over to Tony.

'Dada.' Everyone chuckled, and Tony pulled Tali closer to him. Eventually, Tali's coughing had almost gone, and Ziva spotted signs of her getting hungry.

'I think she is hungry. She did not eat much earlier' she said. Tony handed Tali over to Ziva, who disappeared into the nursery. Tony and Senior tided up the bathroom.

'Thanks, dad' said Tony as Senior handed him some towels. They walked into the living room. 'You want a drink?'

'No, I'm alright. I'd better be going. If you put a rolled-up towel under her mattress, it might help with her breathing tonight. And you might want to take Tali to the paediatrician tomorrow.' Tony smiled, grateful for the advice.

'Will do dad.' They hugged and Senior left. Ziva came out of the nursery, holding Tali.

'Your father, has he gone?' she asked. Tony nodded.

'Yeah, only a few seconds though, why?' Ziva didn't answer but handed Tali over to Tony and left the apartment, ran towards the elevator and found Senior, waiting for it to arrive.

'Ziva, is everything alright?' he asked. Ziva nodded and then wrapped her arms around her father-in-law. Senior smiled and pulled Ziva into a tight hug.

'Thank you' she whispered.

'You're welcome' whispered Senior back. Tali might only have a cold and cough, but he knew how scary it could be, when your child was ill and you didn't know what to do.

A ding alerted the two of them that the elevator had arrived.

'Come for dinner soon' said Ziva.

'Will do' replied Senior as he got on to the elevator.

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