Tivali

Part 1

I step off the plane and onto the runway. The first thing I notice is the crisp cool air. I look for Tony and Tali since they are supposed to be meeting me here. Although since it's dark it's kind of difficult to see people. I pull my coat tighter across my chest and suddenly I hear a little girl.

"Ima!" A little girl yells sounding so happy. "Ima!"

The little girl comes running at me and I recognize it's Tali. My god she has gotten so big.

As soon as she gets to me I pick her up and squeeze her in a huge hug.

"Tali. I've missed you so much!" I tell her as she start to squirm in my arms. "הגעת כל כך גדולה!" (You've gotten so big!)

I put her down even though I want to keep holding on forever.

"Where is Abba?" I ask Tali partly because I want to see him and partly because I want to make sure she didn't run out here on her own.

"Ziva." I hear a voice I will never forget and always reconize from behind me.

I turn around and see him standing there with a look of relief. He looks the same. Maybe a little older. But the same nonetheless.

"Tony." I say not sure what to say or do.

I'm not entirely sure where we stand. Or where I want to.

"Ima!" Tali intrupts  "Can we go home? I want to show you everything!" She finishes excitedly.

Tony and I both smile.

"Yes Tali. We can go." I say and she grabs my hand and starts pulling me where she wants to go.

-----------------------------------

"And this Ima is my playroom." She says showing me the last room I the house.

"So," Tony starts looking between Tali and I. "How do we feel about pizza and a movie?"

"Yay!" Tali cheers and I laugh

"Sounds great." I say and Tony leaves probably to go order.

Meanwhile Tali shows me all of her favorite toys and books. After she is done she drags me out to the living room where Tony is waiting on his phone.

"Abba can we watch Peter Rabbit?" Tali asks sweetly sitting on the couch next to him.

Tony shakes his head with a smile.

"Again?" He asks jokingly.

Tali nods her head with a big smile. Tony nods his head towards me and Tali gets up and runs over to me.

"Can we Ima?" She asks sticking her bottom lip out. "אנא?" (Please) She asks switching to Hebrew.

I smile and nod. "מתוקה." (Of course sweetheart)

Tali grabs my hand and leads me to the couch. I sit down on the opposite end from Tony and Tali sits in the middle of us.

Tony puts the movie on and we all sit there watching the movie silently with the exception of a few laughs. Until the doorbell rings. Tony pauses the movie and gets up. Tali runs off to somewhere and I sit there taking it all in.

"Merci. Gardez la monnaie." (Thanks. Keep the change.) I hear Tony say in French and then I hear the door close.

"You speak French?" I ask as he comes back.

"Not to brag but I also speak Hebrew, Italian, and a little Spanish." He says with a signature Tony DiNozzo grin.

We lock eyes and a million thoughts run through my head.