Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

Ziva opened the door to find Tim McGee standing on the other side. It wasn't a surprise. They had planned this get-together last week.

'Hi Tim' said Ziva smiling.

'Hey Ziva.' Tim stepped into the apartment and gave his friend a hug. Their friendship had changed over the past two and half years, since Ziva had left NCIS. Their friendship had become stronger as they had to make plans to see each other. They no longer had the fallback solution of seeing each other at work. It did help that Tim and Tony still worked together, and that Ziva and Delilah had become good friends over the years.

Ziva got them a coffee each and they chatted about work and life in general. Ziva updated Tim on her photography, something that Tim found fascinating.

'How is Delilah?' asked Ziva as they walked into the living room.

'Delilah's good' replied Tim. He nodded his head a little too much. Ziva automatically picked up on it.

'Tim? What is it?' Ziva asked. Tim sighed, knowing that he couldn't get anything from Ziva. He took a deep breath.

'I've been looking at diamond rings' he said. 'I'm going to propose to Delilah.' The smile on Ziva's grew bigger and bigger.

'Tim. That is amazing.' Tim was smiling now. Ziva gave him a hug.

'Yeah, it is. It's also terrifying.'

'Why is it terrifying?'

'What if Delilah says no?' Ziva gave her friend a sympathetic look.

'Why would she say no?'

'I don't know' said Tim, waving his arms around. 'What if she doesn't want to get married?'

'Has Delilah said she does not want to get married?'

'No.'

'Have the two of you talked about getting married?'

'Yes.'

'Then what is the problem Tim?'

'There isn't one' he said, defeatedly. He collapsed on the sofa, Ziva sitting next to him. 'I'm making excuses, aren't I?'

'Yes, you are' replied Ziva kindly. Tim laughed. Ziva was the voice of reason. 'Any idea on how you are going ask?'

'A couple. Maybe a really nice dinner, or maybe at the comic book store where we met.' Ziva laughed. Tim and Delilah were made for each other. 'How did Tony ask you?' Ziva smiled.

'It was in his old apartment. Tony was getting it ready to rent out. I found in the ring in a box of stuff that he left there.'

'And?'

'We were standing in his bedroom and Tony got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes.' The tenant who moved in the next day was still living there.

'I remember that bit. I lost $20 to Abby because of it.'

'What?' Tim sighed. He forgot Ziva didn't know about the bet.

'Abby and I had a bet on when Tony would propose. Before or after Tali was born. You got engaged before she was born and I lost $20.' Ziva laughed.

'Senior had a similar bet with his ex-fiancée, Linda. Though he won $10.' Tim laughed. A thought popped into his head.

'Speaking of Tony's old apartment, do you know the story of how he got it so cheap?' Ziva smiled.

'About the triple homicide?' Tim rolled his eyes. Of course, Ziva knew.

'When did he tell you?' Ziva smiled.

'You remember when we handed in our badges?' Tim chuckled and nodded his head.

'After Parson's investigation?' Ziva nodded.

'Yes, between that and when I went to Israel, Tony told me about his apartment.' Ziva's memory wandered off to when she and Tony were curled up on the sofa in each other's arms, before Israel and their summer apart, before Tali was conceived. It was that week that Ziva and Tony became closer than they ever had been.

The apartment door opened and Tony, pushing Tali in the stroller came in.

'Mag, Mag.' Tali waved at Tim when she saw him.

'Hi Tali' said Tim, waving back.

'Hey McGee, what are you doing here?'

'I came to see my friends Tony. It's been a while since I saw Ziva and Tali.' Tony had unbuckled Tali out of the stroller and she climbed out and went over to her Ima and Tim.

'How was playgroup?' asked Ziva as Tali climbed onto the sofa. Tony and Tali went to a dad and baby playgroup on a Saturday morning. Tony enjoyed going probably just as much as Tali. He like being around other dads. And bonus points, he wasn't the oldest dad.

'Playgroup was fun, wasn't it' said Tony to Tali. 'You played with playdoh and then you played vets with Tommy.' Tali started to babble about playing with Tommy. Her vocabulary had grown so much in the past year. The three adults listened to the twenty-one-month old. Eventually, Tali climbed down and went to play with her building blocks. Ziva made a mental note about what Tali enjoyed playing with. Her second birthday was only three months away.

'What's for lunch?' asked Tony as he put the stroller away.

'Food' replied Ziva. Tony rolled his eyes. 'Want to stay Tim? We can brainstorm ideas.'

'Ideas for what?' asked Tony. Tim smiled

'I'm going to propose to Delilah. Just have to figure out how.'

'That's great' said Tony. 'Did I ever tell you how I proposed to Ziva?'

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Ziva stood in the doorway to the bedroom, watching Tony packing a bag. Gibbs was sending Tony to London to track down information on Jacob Scott with MI6. Tali was sitting on the bed, Doggy and Nellie the elephant keeping her company.

'It shouldn't be a long trip. Just a few days.'

'It is OK Tony' said Ziva.

'No, it's not Zi. Once again, I am leaving you to take care of Tali. Once again, it all falls on your shoulders.'

'Weeeee!' Tali was playing with Doggy and Nellie, waving them about in the air. She fell on to her back, giggling. Tony and Ziva smiled and laughed. Tony turned to Ziva, who was now standing next to him.

'I think this is going to be my last trip' said Tony. 'After we close this case, I'm going to have a chat with HR and Gibbs. I don't want to keep leaving you and Tali. I need to make a change soon.'

'OK' said Ziva, stroking Tony's arm. 'Whatever you want or do, I have your back.' Tony smiled and kissed Ziva.

'I love you Zi.'

'I love you Tony.' Tony picked up Tali off the bed.

'I love you Tali bean.' He hugged her tightly.

'Ove ou Dada' said Tali Tony let out a small chuckle and placed a kiss on her temple. His phone buzzed, alerting him that his ride to the airport had arrived. Tony passed Tali over to Ziva. The three of them went downstairs and Tony put his bag in the car. He went over to Tali and Ziva.

'I love both you' he said, very quietly. Ziva placed a hand on his chest.

'We know, Tony. We love you too and we will be when you get back.' Tony bent his head and kissed Ziva, and gave Tali's temple another kiss. He got in the car and waved bye to his wife and daughter. They waved back. Tony felt content knowing they were there, waiting for him.

The show doesn't say where Tim and Delilah met so I went with comic book store.

Again, remember that we know what happens at the end of season 13 but the characters don't

Thanks for all the reads and reviews