A/N: I'm not a mother, but I do volunteer at my church's youth program. I've spent a good while thinking about what domestic life would be like with Ziva and Tony and Tali. I think Tali would be more like Ziva, personality wise. She is "fiercely independent", more of a thinker first than a doer. Nevertheless, she does have parts to her personality that are like Tony's. All throughout Ziva's time at NCIS, I have seen the change field work, America (and Americans) had affected her. She started thinking about the future, letting her guard down, wondering about having a family to make "something permanent". For Tony, in 2012, I know he was wondering about the same thing. After Ziva resigned, she did what I did when something devastating happened in my life. Psychologically, you and I understand why she closed herself off and realistically why she could not tell Tony of the child. If you are the daughter of a man of Eli's legacy… well….(it's discussed in the first few chapters of this story..). Now, over time, I believe you can all vouch for this: time, experience, circumstance, love, and loss are all things that morph us. There are concerns when I write Tiva fanfiction because I want them to align with the timeline and personality. Are they different, in any aspect of the word, 6 or 7 years into reuniting? Of course they are. I had to explain myself. If you read this blurb, I appreciate you deeply. If you have any questions or comments...please don't hesitate to inform me. Thank you again. ~

Final curtain call came and went then crowds of people geared towards the door, half of them were hooting and cheering. Through the crowd out of the building, Ziva trailed Tony; Tali lurked behind her mother chatting with two of her friends.

Tony noticed the two extra girls trailing with Tali, "hey girls, uh, did you need a ride home?"

The other girl spoke up, "oh no, Mister DiNozzo, we were actually wondering if Tali could come over…"

Tony looked over to Ziva, causing Ziva to take this one. "That'd be lovely girls, but-"

"Imma, Be'vek'shah?" Tali whined.

One girl nudged the other, "oh she's breaking out the Hebrew. This'll be fun."

The other girl, "Huh?"

Ziva started arguing with Tali in her own tongue. Neither of the two other girls knew what they were saying, but Mr. DiNozzo did. The argument ensued only a minute, mostly because-

"Dai maspik! Seriously ladies!" Tony interrupted. Ziva crossed her arms as did Tali.

Ziva sighed then smiled to the two other girls, "Tali and I have compromised. Tonight is too late since we have to be up early in the morning to go up to New York, but…" Tali grabbed her imma's hand, "how would you girls like to sleepover next weekend? Hm?"

The three girls all became overjoyed. Tony interrupted them with an authoritative tone, "only if your parents say it's okay. Now, I see your parents over there. You can ask them now if you want." The girls nodded and jetted off.

The couple stared at each other by their car, waiting, until Ziva spotted a familiar woman and man walking toward them. Tony turned to see what Ziva was pointing out. "Be nice," Ziva sided and Tony breathed, "remember cheesesteak".

Zoe and Keith stepped up to them. Keith greeted with a simple hello. Zoe seemed more at peace now, more confident, she said "So, where's Ta-, uh, Tali? That's her name, right?"

"Yes, Ta-lee. I see her coming up right now."

Tali walked between Zoe and Keith and went straight to Tony, "Their parents said next week would be good for them. This time can we please make sure we have enough oreos, they are like so good. By the way I'm so hungry."

Tony looked down to his daughter, "ugh, me too, kid. We're gonna get dinner on the way home. But, first, I'd like you to meet Zoe and Keith."

Tali noticed the pair and stood silent but smiled in their direction. Zoe immediately noticed the uncanny resemblance to Tony in the little girl.

"Wow, well, you are very pretty. Tali." Zoe said.

Keith reached out his hand to her, "Hi, I'm Keith. It's nice to meet you."

Tali shook his hand, "Hi."

Ziva explained, "Tali, Zoe is one of your abba's old ...friends. Keith is …"

"Her husband." Keith aided.

"So how old are you Tali?" Zoe asked.

"I'm 8 and 3 months!" Tali replied triumphantly.

"Practically an adult." Zoe smiled then immediately went confused, "8?" She thought about how the math added up; Tony and her were speaking a little over 6 years ago. He never mentioned he had a daughter.

Ziva had a worried look on her face and nudged Tony. She paid attention to Keith, "Uh, Tony why don't you catch up with Zoe." She then looked over, "So Keith ...why don't you tell me about yourself. Are you in law enforcement?"

Tony got the hint and walked a few feet over with Zoe.

Zoe started the conversation. "Tony, what happened? You have a child? I know it's none of my business, but-"

"I know. I understand. Ziva...she and I, we were...well, before you and I met again…" He was having trouble explaining in few words.

"Ziva. I remember. You know... I knew no matter how hard we tried...both of us knew our hearts belonged to someone else." She paused, "I'm glad you found that."

Tony relaxed, "You know..you ever saw The Notebook?" He chuckled and so did she.

"Yeah, yeah. So..that doesn't really explain- I mean, how did...you find out you had …"

"Long story. Short on time. But I will tell you Ziva...she's one hell of a fighter. Just like Tali." He glances at Tali, who's looking at Keith's phone beside Ziva, giggling.

"She's the reason you left NCIS?"

"How did you know-"

"Worked a case about 4 years ago with Major Case, learned you had gone on to 'better things'" Zoe concluded.

"Yes. I did. I was thinking about leaving even before I found them. But when I thought I had lost her and Tali lost her, as well… I had to. She's ….She's everything to me."

"I can tell. You have a beautiful family." Zoe smiled and nodded.

Then Zoe and Tony talked about her life recently and her husband, Keith. They reflected and laughed and went back to the group. They said their goodbyes and got into their SUV.

"How did it go?" Ziva asked from the passenger seat.

"Fine, actually. My limbs are still in tact." He looked to Tali in the rearview mirror, "T-bird, you hungry?"

"Yes! I'm starving!" Tali sassed.

Ziva looked back at Tali and then to Tony. "You cannot be literally starving. Tali, you have eaten today. Therefore, you are not starving. Hungry, I believe. So am I."

Tony put his hand on Ziva's arm,"Ziva. She's just being dramatic." He returned to the previous conversation, "I was nice to Zoe. She was nice to me. You can have pride knowing that I only used one movie reference and-"

"You used a The Notebook reference, didn't you?"

Tony bit his lip, Ziva chuckled. "I mean.. it fit with the whole context of us. Two people whose hearts belong to someone else who find each other...Trust me, it fits. Anyways, I gave her a very brief summary. Found out her husband works in IT, knows a very special agent McGee."

"Huh, small world."

"Very small world." He paused then reached for her hand, "But, ours is so much better." They exchanged looks.

"So you going to see them again?"

"Oh, hell no." Both of them laughed. He really didn't want to. Neither did Ziva.