Dinner was ready, the smell of roasted vegetables and grilled chicken filling the small kitchen. Ziva and Tali worked together to set the table, placing dishes of food down carefully. Rivka, who had finally put her book down, joined them, eyeing the meal with a small smile.

"I think we did well," Tali said, stepping back to admire their work.

Ziva nodded in agreement. "Yes, it looks good."

The only person missing was Tony, who was still glued to the TV, deeply engrossed in the Buckeyes game. Ziva called out toward the living room, "Tony, dinner is ready."

There was no response.

She called out again, louder this time, "Tony!"

Still nothing.

Tali exchanged a glance with Ziva, a knowing smirk on her face. "He's probably too into the game to hear you," she said, amused.

"Apparently," Ziva replied, rolling her eyes. "I'll leave it to you to get his attention."

Tali laughed softly and headed into the living room. Sure enough, Tony was sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the screen, completely oblivious to the fact that dinner had been ready for a while.

"Tony," Tali called out, standing behind him. He didn't even flinch.

She walked around to the front of the couch and stood directly in front of the TV, blocking his view. "Tony."

Tony blinked, suddenly realizing someone was in front of him. "What—Tali? What are you doing?" He leaned to the side to see around her, clearly still focused on the game.

"Dinner is ready. You've been ignoring Ziva calling you for the last five minutes," Tali said, arms crossed.

Tony looked momentarily sheepish. "Oh… yeah, sorry. I didn't hear her."

Tali shook her head, smiling. "Clearly. Come on, before the food gets cold."

With a reluctant sigh, Tony grabbed the remote, pausing the game. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."

Tali led him back into the kitchen, where Ziva was already sitting at the table, clearly unimpressed. "About time," Ziva remarked dryly as Tony took a seat.

Tony grinned, unapologetic. "I was in the zone. You know how it is."

Ziva arched an eyebrow. "Yes, well, now you're in this zone. Eat."

He chuckled, grabbing a serving of vegetables and chicken. "I'm here, I'm here. Relax."

The four of them settled into dinner, the quiet clink of silverware the only sound for a few moments. The meal was simple, but good—comforting in its familiarity. Tony, between bites, couldn't help but break the silence. "I've gotta say, Ziva, you and Tali make a pretty good team in the kitchen."

"Thank you," Tali replied with a smile, while Ziva shot Tony a look that said she wasn't entirely ready to forgive him for being late to dinner.

"You're lucky you got here before it got cold," Ziva said pointedly.

Tony gave her a lopsided grin. "What can I say? The Buckeyes were winning."

The table settled into an easy rhythm after that, with Rivka quietly observing the dynamic between them, a slight smile tugging at her lips as she watched her daughters interact with Tony. It was clear that despite the chaos swirling around them, there was a small sense of normalcy here—one that they all needed.

After a few moments of quiet conversation, Ziva glanced at her mother, who had barely said a word. "You're quiet tonight, Ima. What do you think?"

Rivka looked up, her smile soft but content. "I think I'm grateful to have this moment with both of my daughters. And Tony," she added, her eyes flicking to him with a hint of amusement.

Tony raised his glass slightly in acknowledgment. "Glad I could add to the charm of the evening."

Tali chuckled, and even Ziva couldn't hide the hint of a smile.

For now, the worries of the outside world were held at bay, replaced by the warmth of a family meal shared together.

The day finally came to a close as Rivka and Tali retired to their bedrooms upstairs. The house fell into a quiet stillness, the only sounds coming from Tony and Ziva as they prepared the pull-out couch in the living room for the night.

Tony unfolded the bed, tossing a pillow at Ziva. "Your turn to hit the hay," he said with a smirk. "I'm going to stay up a bit longer."

Ziva gave him a look, her eyes narrowing. "You always stay up too long."

He simply shrugged and put a movie on, settling himself on the couch-turned-bed next to her. Ziva pulled the blanket up and closed her eyes, trying to relax, but the sound of the movie—along with Tony's presence—was impossible to ignore.

After a few minutes, she turned toward him, irritation creeping into her voice. "Can you not remember from Paris that I can't sleep when you are watching a movie?"

Tony grinned at her, leaning back. "Oh, I remember Paris... just not that part."

Ziva raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Oh really?" She then turned around, her back to him, and mumbled, "Keep your mind out of the gutter, Tony."

He chuckled, thoroughly amused. "What? I'm innocent! But you... Ziva David, where is your mind going?"

"Tony," she muttered, clearly annoyed.

Tony glanced at the screen, then at her, before switching off the TV. For a moment, the room was silent, but it didn't last long. "Now I'm bored," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet.

Ziva groaned. "And what am I supposed to do about that?" she snapped, half-expecting his typical banter.

A grin spread across his face as he teased, "Well, I know what you could do…"

Without a second thought, Ziva turned back around and smacked him in the face with her pillow. "You are such an immature idiot," she mumbled, half-amused and half-irritated.

Tony burst out laughing, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Ziva David, how dirty is your mind? I just meant you could finally doze off and get some sleep!"

Ziva shot him a sarcastic look. "Right. That's exactly what you were thinking."

"Absolutely," he replied, feigning innocence with a grin.

Ziva shook her head, turning back around to face away from him, settling back down with a sigh. "Goodnight, Tony."

"Goodnight, Ziva."

The room fell silent again, save for the occasional creak of the old house. Ziva lay there, listening to Tony's breathing as it gradually slowed. After a few more minutes, she felt the bed shift slightly as he too drifted off into sleep, now lying next to her on the small pull-out couch.

For a moment, Ziva allowed herself to relax. She closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips as she finally let the day's tension melt away. Despite everything, it felt oddly comforting to have Tony there beside her, even if he was an annoying presence at times. Soon, she too was fast asleep.

In the quiet stillness of the night, the house was silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves outside and the soft sound of Tony and Ziva breathing as they slept. Upstairs, Tali stirred in her bed, suddenly thirsty. She slipped out from under the covers and padded down the stairs, careful not to make too much noise.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Tali glanced toward the living room and couldn't help but grin. There, on the pull-out couch, Tony and Ziva were asleep, lying much closer together than what you'd expect from two people who claimed they were just friends. Their legs were intertwined, and Tony's arm had somehow draped over Ziva's waist during the night.

Quietly, Tali pulled out her phone, unable to resist capturing the moment. She took a quick photo, suppressing a laugh as she admired her work. She planned to tease Ziva about it later, though she knew it might not end well for her.

As she tiptoed toward the kitchen to get her glass of water, her foot caught on the edge of the rug, causing a slight thud. The noise, though minor, was enough to jolt Ziva awake. Instinctively, Ziva reached under her pillow and grabbed her gun, aiming it toward the direction of the noise.

Tali froze, her eyes wide as she stared down the barrel of her sister's weapon. "Ziva! It's me!" she whispered frantically, hands raised in surrender.

Tony woke up at the commotion, startled. "What the—?" he mumbled, shifting quickly. In his confusion, he rolled right off the bed, landing hard on the floor with a loud thud.

"Ah!" he yelped, rubbing his backside as he sat on the ground in disbelief.

The sight of Tony falling clumsily off the couch, combined with the fact that Ziva had nearly drawn a gun on her, sent Tali into a fit of laughter. Ziva lowered her weapon, realizing what had happened, and couldn't help but laugh too.

Tony, still on the floor, groaned. "What's so funny?" he asked, clearly still groggy and confused.

"You," Ziva managed between laughs, "falling on your ass."

He shot her a half-hearted glare, still rubbing his sore backside. "I think I liked it better when you two were asleep."

Tali wiped away a tear from laughing and shook her head. "It's just… I came for a glass of water and almost got shot! And you... well, you didn't help."

Ziva gave Tony a wry look, her amusement lingering. "You were supposed to be the calm one, Tony."

Tony grumbled as he clambered back onto the couch, his dignity bruised more than anything else. "Well, in my defense, I was asleep."

Tali, still smiling, finally headed to the kitchen to get her water. As she passed them again on her way back upstairs, she glanced over her shoulder. "Sleep tight, you two. Try not to shoot me if I come down again."

Ziva shook her head, finally tucking her gun back under her pillow. "Goodnight, Tali."

"Goodnight," Tony added, grumbling under his breath as he shifted back into a more comfortable position on the pull-out couch.

Once Tali disappeared upstairs, Ziva looked at Tony, who was now staring at the ceiling. "You are hopeless."

He looked back at her with a smirk. "Hey, at least I didn't pull a gun on her."

Ziva gave him a light shove. "Go to sleep, Tony."

With a chuckle, he settled back down beside her. The night returned to its peaceful quiet, with both Tony and Ziva drifting back into sleep—this time a bit closer than before, though neither of them seemed to mind.

The morning sun filtered through the trees surrounding the safe house, casting long shadows across the ground. Inside, the smell of fresh coffee filled the air, and Tony, Ziva, Tali, and Rivka were gathered around the kitchen, quietly going about their morning routine. The peacefulness of the moment was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up outside.

A few moments later, Gibbs and McGee stepped through the door, carrying bags of supplies and scanning the room with a practiced ease. Gibbs greeted the group with his usual stoic expression, while McGee offered a more relaxed smile.

"Morning," Gibbs said gruffly, setting down the supplies on the table.

"Morning, Boss," Tony replied, his tone cheerful despite the tension that still lingered in the air.

Ziva glanced at Gibbs and then to McGee, nodding her greeting. "Good to see you both."

Gibbs' eyes flicked over to Rivka, and after a brief pause, he walked over to her, clearly intending to have a private conversation. "Rivka," he said, his voice a little softer than usual.

Rivka offered a small smile, clearly appreciative of Gibbs' gesture. "Jethro."

Ziva took that moment to slip out of the house. "I'm going for a run," she announced, already halfway to the door before anyone could object.

Tony raised an eyebrow but didn't stop her. He knew Ziva needed space, especially with everything going on. Running was her way of clearing her head, and after the events of the last few days, she needed it.

As Ziva disappeared down the path, McGee took the opportunity to settle into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, accepting a cup of coffee from Tali. She sat across from him, stirring her own cup absentmindedly.

"So, how are you holding up?" McGee asked, his tone kind as he glanced between Tali and Tony.

Tali offered a small shrug. "We're managing," she said, though her mind seemed to be on something else. After a pause, she gave McGee a curious look. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," McGee replied, a bit curious himself now.

Tali hesitated for a moment, then glanced over at Tony, who was pouring himself a second cup of coffee, engrossed in the task. Lowering her voice slightly, she leaned in. "What's the deal with Tony and my sister?"

McGee blinked, a little caught off guard by the directness of the question. He glanced over at Tony, who was still unaware of the conversation, then back at Tali. "Tony and Ziva? Well, they're... complicated," he said, choosing his words carefully.

Tali smiled knowingly. "That's what everyone keeps saying."

McGee scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "They've been through a lot together. They've got each other's backs, and… well, there's definitely something there, but... I guess they're just figuring it out in their own way."

Tali's smile widened a bit, clearly amused. "So, they're close but pretending not to be?"

McGee chuckled softly. "That's one way to put it."

Tali leaned back in her chair, her gaze shifting back to Tony as she watched him interact with Rivka, who had now joined the conversation with Gibbs. "I'm just surprised. Ziva's always been... guarded. But with Tony, it's different."

McGee nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Tony has a way of getting past her walls. He's... persistent."

Tali laughed quietly. "I've noticed."

Tony finally noticed their conversation and wandered over, clearly picking up on the fact that they'd been talking about him. "What's going on over here?" he asked with a grin, sitting down beside McGee.

"Nothing," Tali said innocently, though the glint in her eye told Tony she wasn't being entirely truthful.

Tony raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Uh-huh. Well, I'm sure whatever it is, McNosy here gave you the full scoop."

McGee rolled his eyes. "I didn't say anything."

"Sure, Probie," Tony said with a playful smirk.

"Where'd Ziva go?" asked Tim

"Out for a run," Tony replied.

Tim frowned slightly. "Of course she did."

Gibbs and Rivka returned to the kitchen, finishing their conversation, and Rivka offered a nod of thanks to Gibbs. She then took a seat at the table next to Tali, her face thoughtful as she watched the others interact.

The atmosphere settled into a more comfortable silence as they all enjoyed their coffee, waiting for Ziva to return, the weight of their situation always looming, but for now, they were safe.

Tony and McGee sat in the living room, quietly sipping their coffee. The earlier conversations had left a relaxed atmosphere, but Tony's mind seemed to be elsewhere. He glanced toward the kitchen, where Gibbs and Rivka had been talking just moments before, and something clearly caught his attention.

Leaning toward McGee, Tony lowered his voice, making sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Hey, McGee... you notice the way Gibbs is talking to Ziva's mother?"

McGee blinked, looking toward the empty kitchen doorway, then back at Tony. "What do you mean?"

Tony smirked, setting his cup down and leaning back in his chair. "I'm saying... Gibbs doesn't really know Rivka, right? They've just met. But he's talking to her like there's... I don't know, something more. Like he's really trying to make a connection."

McGee raised an eyebrow. "He's just being polite. She's Ziva's mother—maybe he's trying to make her feel comfortable."

Tony shook his head, still grinning. "Nah, it's more than that. Gibbs is never this... engaged with strangers. He's being different around her, don't you think?"

McGee frowned, considering it for a moment. "You really think Gibbs is... interested?"

Tony shrugged, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I don't know, but it's not every day Gibbs spends more than five minutes making small talk with someone. Especially someone he just met."

McGee chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're reading into this way too much, Tony. Gibbs is probably just making sure she's okay. It's not like she's been in this world of ours for long."

Tony waved his hand dismissively. "Maybe, but come on. You know Gibbs. He's not usually this personable with people he barely knows."

McGee glanced toward the kitchen again, now a little intrigued. "I still think you're imagining things. But... I guess it wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen lately."

Tony shot him a triumphant grin. "Exactly. Stranger things have definitely happened."

McGee shook his head, still unconvinced but amused nonetheless. "You really think Gibbs could be... interested in Ziva's mom?"

Tony shrugged again, sipping his coffee. "I'm just saying, don't rule it out."

McGee laughed quietly. "Well, if anyone could catch Gibbs off guard, I suppose it would be someone like Rivka. She's got that strong presence."

Tony's smirk deepened. "See, now you're getting it."

McGee rolled his eyes. "You really need to stop basing your theories on movies."

Tony gave him a playful nudge. "It's not a theory. Just... an observation."

Their conversation died down, but Tony couldn't help keeping an amused eye on the kitchen, wondering if there really was something more going on between Gibbs and Rivka. McGee, though skeptical, couldn't completely dismiss the thought now either.