Apologies for the slow update, work has caught up with me the past few days!

Lovers

The mall.

For Tony, it was a place where his wallet seemed to be unable to stay shut, mainly thanks to his children. Timmy wanted the newest video game, Tony suddenly realised that his old football shirts simply wouldn't do, and Abi demanded very near a full new wardrobe. Not to mention how tempting buying most of the video stall was for the actual owner of the wallet.

But it wasn't just for the monetary reasons that Tony avoided the mall. Mainly, he always seemed to run into people that, frankly, he would rather avoid like the plague (excusing the rather terrible pun; that was a still a sore point with him). Old college friends that seemed to just appear were always a nuisance. But the bigger threat?

Past lovers.

It was always a dangerous gamble going to the mall, but Tony had decided to take it today. After 3 hours of shopping, and laden with bags, the trek back to the car park was almost a relief. Almost. As they stepped outside into the sun however, his day hit a snag.

""Tony?"

He nearly dropped the bags in shock, whilst his children turned to eye up the speaker with a look of puzzlement. Tony turned around, and felt his stomach churn as a blonde almost tackled him with a hug, instantly wishing to disappear, melt, dissolve, whatever was quickest.

" Oh my God! It is you! Tony DiNozzo!"

" Ah, y-yeah, EJ. Sh-Shouldn't you be in R-"

" Rota? No, I'm on leave for a couple of weeks. Owed time and all that."

Tony nodded several times, taking in the blonde before him. She hadn't changed much, a few more extra wrinkles, but still the same EJ as years ago. There was silence, before she spoke again, a coy smile writing across her features.

" It's been a long time since we last saw each ot-"

" He's married."

Tony could barely hide the smirk that ached to appear, as his daughter appeared from behind him, shopping placed on the floor, arms folded, looking incredibly like her mother when Tony had had one too many to drink. EJ visibly recoiled, eyes widening at the sight of the girl in front of her, before her usual, slightly smug smile appeared.

" I'd say she was a little young for you, Tony, but then again, you always managed to surprise me."

Abi stammered, horror crossing her face.

" H-He's my d-"

" Dad. I'm very much aware. You have his eyes. Although, it's very clear that you take most of your looks from your mother..."

She turned to Tony, an eyebrow raised, somewhat amused.

" So when did you and Agent David shack up then?"

Tony Junior let out a snort of laughter, as his father's trademark grin appeared.

" Married, actually. 17 years."

EJ actually had the gaul to look surprised.

" Married? Never thought I'd see the day. And obviously, now living the family life now, yes?"

Her eyes cast over the three children, the eldest of whom stepped forward with his hand outstreched, his father's megawatt grin plastered across his face.

" Anthony DiNozzo. Junior. Well, technically Junior Junior but-"

" She gets it, kiddo."

The father gave him a light swat on the head and tugged him back with a smirk. Abi remained where she stood, eyeballing EJ as she looked at her.

" And this must be your daughter?"

" Abigail."

Tony gave her a gentle nudge, receiving a cold look in return. Abi eyed the woman again, giving her a brief smile, before returning to her steely glare. EJ smiled, attempting to alleviate the tension and ignore the dark looks she was getting from the girl, and looked towards the youngest DiNozzo, who was engrossed in his iPod. Tony gave an apologetic shrug.

" That's Timmy, but he tends to be a little quieter. World of his own."

EJ nodded, smiling again, before Abi cut in, sarcasm almost dripping from her voice.

" Well, this has been fascinating but Mum wanted us home early because, in case forgot Dad, we're going to Aunt Abby and Uncle Tim's tonight."

With a short cough, Abi picked up the bags, took the keys from her father, and headed towards the car, Timmy absentmindedly trotting behind her. Tony glanced towards his father, before shrugging, and following his siblings. Tony chuckled, looking to EJ.

" Got them well trained, Ziva. You know kids. So...how's Rota?"

The woman shrugged, eyes meeting his.

" Same as always. Not much ever changes. How's the team?"

" Gibbs retired, I took over. McGee, Ziva, still there. Ducky retired, Palmer's in charge now. Abby, of course, is still with us. She and McGee got married, got two brats of their own."

There was another silence as Tony stopped talking, the two simply looking at each other. A loud honking behind them signaled that a) his eldest was driving his Ferrari and b) his very impatient daughter was becoming more impatient by the minute.

" Listen, I better get going, but hey, it, eh...It was nice seeing you."

EJ nodded, a small smile appearing as she leant forward and gave him a somewhat awkward hug.

" Take care of yourself, Tony."

Tony watched her walk away from him, before another honk of the horn sounded, and he moved from his spot, dumping the shopping in the boot before climbing into the front seat. As his son pulled away, his daughter was quick to lean forward, as far as her belt would allow.

" So?"

Tony glanced out of the corner of his eye at her.

" So what?"

" Who was she?"

Tony scoffed lightly.

" A friend."

Abi reached a hand forward, taking a grip of her father's ear.

" You tell me who she was, or I'm calling Mum, and telling her you were flirting with-"

" Hey! I wasn't flirting!"

" Flirting with an unknown blonde."

Tony Junior scoffed, receiving a glare from his father.

" Hey, eyes on the road, kiddo. We'll discuss why exactly you're in the drivers seat of my car, which you are expressly banned from, when we get home. If we get home. I swear you drive like your mother."

" ANSWER ME!"

Both Tonys visibly jumped, Abigail glaring darkly at her father. The elder sighed, glancing at the girl, and shrugging.

" An old friend. Used to work at NCIS with me."

Abigail watched for a moment, before settling back in her seat, eyes still suspicious. There was a moment of silence, before a slight cough from the smaller Tony. His father glanced towards him, as the boy wiggled a eyebrow. There was a shared smirk between father and son, before Abi burst out.

" You SLEPT with her?"

Tony nearly choked, turning around to face her.

" You gave Tony the look! Men are DISGUSTING! EVERY time we go out, you meet an old friend! I don't know how Mum can put up with it!"

Tony recoiled slightly, shuffling back around to face the front, muttering under his breath. His mood took a sharp decline as, with Tony pulling into the drive, his wife appeared at the front door, arms folded, looking somewhat murderous.

" How, in the name of God, does she know?"

Timmy giggled slightly, meeting his father's suspicious eye over the top of his iPod, turning it around to show a picture of a hugging Tony and EJ.

" I may have text her, by accident of course. Now, for the picture, I'll take bids starting at $20, Pop."

Tony gritted his teeth, silently cursing his second son, as he slyly slid a $20 bill to him, out of view of his wife. The boy grinned, exiting the vehicle with a satisfied sigh, his brother and sister equally amused. Tony glared at them, stepping out and steeling himself for his wife's interrogation.

He suddenly regretted the playboy in him, for all those years of casual nights and flirtations.