Pure fluff :3 I'm in that sort of mood. McAbby and Papa!Gibbs in the next chapter :D And to answer a few things, as I realise I have sort of neglected talking to you guys rencently(I'm sorry! You can all have one Gibbs-slap each!) -

The Lady Grace: YES! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's seen Hercules and has a love for it! :D

nancy k. nkwhimseycornergma: Gibbs has to be kicking around. I just can't see the man ever dying. He's going to hibernate in his basement for years to come :D

tivaandmcabby: Thank you so much for your praise! And of course Ziva's a good mum, it's just so her (:

mprmusings: So very glad you enjoyed it! :D

Shalom :)

Heart

" Home is where the heart is"

Tony had often heard the expression, but never truly understood him, his childhood home had been a place of uncertainty, loneliness, and distant memories of a time where he could recall being somewhat happy; before his mother had died and, more painfully, before he'd watched his parents' love die before his eyes. For him, his heart lay away from that house, and for years, it was him, just him. Then he'd found NCIS, and found a family, and finally began to understand that expression. It became even more clear during his time afloat, as he pined for the Navy Yard; for Gibbs, and his headslaps; for McGee, and his nerdiness; for Abby and her Caf-Pow fueled hugging; for the woman he loved, and the long, secret nights spent together.

He'd reopened the book on that lesson, however, when his children were born, and finally, he felt he could define it. The yearning to return home from work, from the passion he loved, to his wife, to his children, was impossible to beat, and Tony finally felt at peace. With that same gusto he'd thrown himself into police work with, he put everything into his home life; they were his world.

" Daddy!"

Tony blinked, thoughts suddenly distracted. His son tugged at his hand, drawing his attention back to the present.

" I wan' up! Le's go see Mama!"

Tony lowered the bar on the crib and removed the toddler with a smile, saddling him on his hip with one arm. From behind him, his daughter let out a wail of protest; she'd only recently learnt to pull herself up, and right now, this effort was being ignored. Tony shushed her, lifting her into the other arm, where she nestled in happily, and began babbling to her big brother in broken words around her pacifier. He still wondered at how easily he'd adjusted to this father role; he'd struggled to hold one, unmoving baby to begin with, and now balanced two squirming bundles with ease.

He stepped out of the nursery and padded along the hall, stopping to silently peek into the master bedroom. A soft sigh of pure, unfiltered love left his lips at the sight that greeted him. Morning sunlight crept in through the blinds, bathing his wife of four years in a gentle glow as she slept, face tranquil in a slight smile, her dark curls splayed around her and a delicate hand resting on her stomach, rounding with the signs of early pregnancy. It was breathtaking.

" B'ootiful."

He looked down at the little girl in his arms, who glanced up at him, before repeating herself.

" Mama b'ootiful."

Tony nodded softly, noting mentally with a laugh that his daughter would get that right. Ziva shifted in her sleep, eyes peeking open at the noise, smile instantly spreading across her still drowsy face.

" Good morning, my loves."

Tony let both children down onto the bed, smiling as they scooted over to their mother, instantly embraced in a tight hug and soft murmured words of love in Hebrew, words Tony knew from listening to his wife with them. He crossed the room, picking up his cell and suit jacket, slinging it over one shoulder, and paused at the edge of the bed. As he leant down, his wife placed a hand on one cheek, still smiling as he kissed her.

" Be safe. Come home. That's all I ask."

" Always."

They kissed again, Tony's lips leaving hers to find her ear and whisper softly.

" Ha'chaim sheli."

He felt Ziva sigh against him, and she pecked his cheek as he pulled away, leaning down to say goodbye to both children before leaving. He paused at the doorway, turning to give them one last smile.

" I love you."

It wasn't directed to any one of them in particular. Tony giggled, and Abby blew him a kiss with one chubby hand. Ziva held them closer, her eyes meeting his.

" And I love you."

Content, Tony turned and left, pausing as he collected the car keys to smile at the frame on the wall by the front door, words inked carefully by his wife, a reminder to him each and every day, not that he needed it.

'Home is where the heart is'

Ha'chaim sheli : You are my life / You are my reason for living. (If there are any Hebrew speakers out there who can correct me if I'm wrong, please PM me! :D)