NB I don't own anything of NCIS

Thank you so much to my BR, USA123. She's so great!

Grazie to all of you!

I decided to add another chapter... or better, an alternative ending with a surprise... ;)

"The Future You Didn't Expect"

Alternative Ending.

"Tony, what the h*ll is going on?" a really worried Gibbs asked from the passenger seat as Tony continued to drive like a maniac in the DC night.

"He's packing," the younger man replied through clenched teeth as he took a turn on two wheels.

"Senior?"

Tony just nodded.

"But he'll wait for you before—"

"No. He said he got a call from a business friend and he's leaving in ten," Tony interrupted him as he pushed harder on the accelerator.

"What? But he can't leave Tali alone," growled Gibbs.

Tony threw the car into park and got out without answering. Gibbs followed him up the stairs and to his apartment.

"Dad!" Tony called as he opened the door wide.

"Oh, Junior," Senior entered the living room with a crying Tali in his arm.

The little girl reached out to Tony and he immediately took her in his arms and cuddled her.

Gibbs was behind Tony and was fighting with himself to not physically kick Senior out of the apartment.

"What happened?!" Tony raised his voice and Tali, who had just calmed down a little, began crying again. "No, little one," he whispered. "Shhhhh...don't worry...shhhhh." He rubbed his hand up and down the little girl's back, trying to calm her.

"I got a call from a friend. He has a very interesting business in Dubai but I've got to leave in a few minutes," his father replied with a smile. "We could even hook up with some very rich ladies," he winked.

"Dad..." Tony hissed. "I—" his eyes were spitting fire.

Gibbs could no longer hold himself back. "I got this, Tony," Gibbs told his SFA. "You're done with your luggage?" he asked and got a nod from the older man.

The MCRT leader opened the main door, took all Senior's bags and threw them out into the hall.

"Hey!" the older DiNozzo exclaimed angrily.

"Out!" Gibbs pointed with his finger to the hall.

"How dare you?!" Senior took a step towards Gibbs.

"Dad, just go," Tony whispered. His voice was heavy with anger and disappointment.

The older man looked at his son for a very brief moment and was hit by the scene in front of him: Tony cuddling Tali who was clutching at his neck for dear life.

He had never lived that moment with his only son. "Tony, you know me...I...I am what I am and—"

"You'll never change. I know," Tony nodded. "I thought you would but I was wrong." Tony took a deep breath. "Now go, please," he gestured with his head towards the door.

Senior nodded and left the apartment without looking back.

After Gibbs had closed the door behind him, Tony turned to his boss with such a lost look that Gibbs' heart ached.

"Gibbs, I—" a lump closed Tony's throat before he could finish.

The grey hair man shook his head. "Sit on the couch and calm her down. I'll take care of the rest." He squeezed Tony's shoulder.

Tony sat down and felt Tali shift against his chest. "Gibbs, thank you," he whispered.

Gibbs stopped in the kitchen doorway and turned back around. "No, Tony. Thank you for giving us...me a chance to fix the past few years."

They looked at each other for a few seconds and found in the other's eyes the connection that they'd lost and missed for too many years.

Later that night, while Tali was peacefully sleeping in Tony's room, Gibbs and his SFA found themselves on the couch, both lost in their thoughts.

Tony was playing and replaying what had happened in Israel the last time he had seen Ziva and he couldn't believe that they had ended up in bed. How it was possible that, after being treated like scum for so many years, he had felt the desire to sleep with her, was beyond his comprehension.

I must have been pretty drunk!
How on earth is it possible I didn't use protection? I always do that...heck! I did it with Wendy though we were going to marry!

He rubbed his face, stood up and stopped in front of the window.

Only in that moment did Tony realize Gibbs hadn't said anything for a while. It wasn't so unusual for his functionally-mute boss to stay silent for hours but this was not Gibbs' usual mutism.

Tony turned and began studying Gibbs' face.

The older man was staring at his bourbon and making it spin in the glass. His forehead was rippled and he kept clenching and unclenching his jaw.

"Gibbs," Tony called him softly but didn't get any reaction. "Gibbs," he repeated, but the other man didn't even turn.

Tony walked back to couch and plopped down next to his mentor. "Gibbs, what's going on?" he asked worried.

The older man looked at him with such a hard look that Tony thought he was mad at him.

"I know I disap—" he hurried to justify himself but was stopped by Gibbs shaking his head. "What?"

The team leader stood up and started pacing the living room while Tony kept following his movements in confusion.

"I called Abby," Gibbs finally said.

Tony stared at him expectantly. "Yeah, I've heard you. So? What happened? Something new about the case?"

Gibbs took a deep breath and shook his head.

"She has the results from the DNA test, doesn't she?" Tony's green eyes widened.

Gibbs nodded.

"So?" Tony repeated nervously.

"It doesn't match," Gibbs whispered, staring Tony straight in his eyes.

"What?!" Tony jumped off the couch. "'Ya mean that..." he trailed off.

"Tali is not your daughter."

These five words had the effect of a bomb.

It seemed that Tony couldn't breathe. He was staring at Gibbs and opening and closing his mouth like a fish but no sound came forth.

The younger man's breath suddenly became heavy and, if Gibbs hadn't grabbed his shoulders, Tony would have fallen down.

"Hey!" Gibbs slightly slapped Tony's face. "Hey!" he raised his voice a bit.

Tony looked at him openmouthed. His head was light. He felt like he was drunk.

"I'm... I'm free," he whispered and chuckled.

Gibbs just nodded, grinning. He knew Tony had reacted to the news about his paternity like everyone had expected him to react: take responsibility for what you did, face the problem, deal with it and bury your feelings.

But he also knew that, deep down, Tony hated that situation—even before Tony confessed that he didn't want to be a father. Though he had been surprised to hear those words, Gibbs hadn't believed his SFA was ready to be Tali's dad.

Tony took the glass of bourbon that was on the coffee table and drank it in one gulp. Then he stood up, looked around his apartment and took a deep breath.

"I don't know how I feel, Gibbs," he shook his head. He couldn't stop smiling

"You'll get there" Gibbs half-smiled as he stood up as well.

"What am I going to do now?"

Gibbs frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Tali, Gibbs," Tony turned and looked at the little girl peacefully sleeping in his bed. "She's alone in the world and I said I'd take care of her even if she was not mine."

"We could find her father?" Gibbs proposed.

"Gibbs," Tony swallowed, trying to calm down. "Ziva told Orli that Tali was mine."

"I know."

"She told Orli that I was the only possibility."

"Clearly she was wrong," Gibbs replied not understanding where Tony was heading with his words.

"What if the results are wrong?"

"Abby re-did the DNA test three times and got the same result." The older man squeezed Tony's shoulder. "Tali is not your daughter."

Tony nodded. "But Ziva wanted me to be her dad."

"But you are not."

"I told Tali I am her Aba. She thinks I'm her daddy…Don't know why, but I've got the feeling that Ziva told Tali that too."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "Do you think Ziva lied on purpose?" she asked, but Tony shook his head. "DiNozzo, I don't understand what—"

"I think Ziva wanted me to be her little girl's father because she wanted to be sure that Tali was safe."

"So you think she entrusted her daughter to you and convinced herself that you were her father because the alternative was not safe?"

Tony nodded. "Tali's part of the family and I want to take care of her. I want to keep her safe."

Now it was Gibbs' turn to nod, perfectly understanding what Tony meant. "We'll do it together."

In unison, they both scrubbed at their faces and Tony chuckled when he realized what they'd done.

Then his expression sobered. "What a mess," Tony whispered.

"Yep."

Tony walked to his bedroom and stopped at the door. "She's so innocent... the only innocent in this mess."

Gibbs, who had followed his SFA, nodded and squeezed Tony's shoulder.

"'Ya know, I was starting to like being a father," Tony chuckled sadly. "But at the same time I felt trapped. I was suffocating and didn't know what to do." He turned to Gibbs. "Thank you for being by my side."

Gibbs shook his head. "I should have been by your side since the beginning. I should never have left your side, Tony."

"You're here now and that's what matters," Tony said, smiling softly.

"Still it shouldn't have happened," Gibbs replied and Tony could see guilt in his eyes.

The younger man just nodded.

Gibbs walked back to the couch while Tony sat on the piano bench.

"We should call Orli and tell her about Tali's paternity," Gibbs said but Tony quickly shook his head.

"If she'll know that I'm not Tali's father, she'll want to take her back to Israel to find her real dad. We can't leave Tali alone in that country, Gibbs!"

"She wouldn't be alone, Tony. She'd be with her real father."

Tony nodded and felt a hint of jealousy. He was still upset and confused by the turmoil of the last few hours and he couldn't understand what he really felt. Tony was happy that Tali was not his daughter but at the same time he had started loving her and wanted to protect her.

"We are both tired. We should rest or we won't be able to think clearly," Gibbs suggested as he leaned heavily against the backrest of the couch.

"Can't sleep. You?"

Gibbs shook his head.

Tony stood up and, after checking on Tali again to be sure she was sleeping peacefully, he sat down next to Gibbs.

"What should we do?" the younger man asked.

"We can't hide the fact that Tali's not yours forever."

"Orli loves Tali and she really loved Ziva too. Maybe if we talk to her, she'll agree to leave Tali with us," Tony reasoned.

"You think she'll believe you?" Gibbs raised his eyebrows and saw Tony shake his head. "Me neither."

"So?"

"Did she already leave for Tel Aviv?" Gibbs asked.

"I don't know. Why?"

"Maybe if we show her how happy Tali is here, she'll understand our point of view."

"I don't know, Gibbs," Tony sighed. "I don't think she's going to want to leave Tali with a stranger."

"I think it's your only option DiNozzo. Orli's part of your life now. The two of you have to be on good terms in case Tali would need something from her biological family."

"You're right Gibbs," Tony said as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "We'll call her in the morning."

The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by Tony yawning so loudly his jaw cracked.

"You should sleep, Tony," Gibbs whispered.

"You too, Gibbs," Tony smirked.

"Yep, but you're the one who was stressing out all day" the older man replied, grinning. Then he stood up and motioned toward the sofa. "You sleep here. I'll take the inflatable mattress."

A sharp look from Gibbs kept Tony from protesting and he obediently lay down on the sofa. Gibbs then covered Tony with a light blanket.

"You can find another blanket in the wardrobe near the door," Tony sighed as he closed his eyes.

Gibbs gt the blanket and then he laid down as well.

"Thank you, boss," Tony whispered and a happy smile graced Gibbs' face.

Five hours later, the ring of Gibbs' cell woke them both up.

"Gibbs...yes, Leon...he's here with me, do you want to...WHAT?!"

At the shout, Tali woke up crying and Tony literally jumped off the sofa and ran to her while glaring at Gibbs.

"How is it possible?" Gibbs hissed, lowering his voice as he got up from the mattress and walked to the kitchen to make some coffee, already sensing that that day would be long and very difficult. ""Where's she?" he asked as Tony walked into the kitchen comforting Tali.

It was such a sweet scene: Tony was holding Tali in his arms and making her laugh with silly faces and faking the voice of the bunny he had in his hand.

They looked so happy and relaxed Gibbs' heart ached at the thought of what was going to happen.

Tony looked at him and his smile immediately dropped off his face. What? he mouthed.

Gibbs just shook his head. "We'll be there ASAP, Leon," he murmured and ended the call.

"What happened?" Tony asked worried, pulling Tali closer to his chest.

"Orli didn't leave DC yesterday. Last night she got some news about the fire and went to the Navy Yard."

"And…"

"She and Vance talked about the fire and our case. Then they decided to compare evidence from NCIS and Mossad so they went down to Abby's lab. Abby was working in the other room and the results were on the counter."

Tony's eyes widened as he realized what had happened. "We have to go, Gibbs! We have to prove to her Tali is happy here!"

Gibbs reached out and grabbed Tony's shoulder, keeping him from leaving the kitchen. "She's hungry Tony. Vance can wait five minutes while you feed her."

Tony looked at the girl, who did indeed look hungry.

"Right, sure." Tony handed Tali to Gibbs, who put her in the highchair and tied on her bib, while he began warming some milk for oatmeal and mashed apple.

"So what did Vance want exactly?" Tony asked in a much calmer voice as he began feeding Tali.

"Just to meet us in his office. Alone," Gibbs informed him. "We can leave Tali with Bishop or Abby."

Tony just nodded absently and began to clean Tali's face.

"Do you need help getting her ready?"

"No," Tony whispered, sad. "Right, Tali?" He smiled his best fake smile while he took her in his arms. He stood there for a second then asked, "Boss, is it crazy if I don't want to let her go?"

Tony's look was so lost that Gibbs squeezed his shoulders, trying to encourage him. "No," the older man replied, barely audible.

Gibbs hugged Tony and Tali with one arm and the little girl surprised him with a kiss on his cheek.

Both men chuckled through teary eyes.

Tony and Gibbs entered Vance's office and found Orli and Vance waiting for them with a Mossad Agent the team knew very well, Officer Malachi Ben-Gidon.

They all greeted each other with a series of nods.

The silence in the office was heavy and loaded of tension.

"So it seems our dear Ziva was wrong and Tali is not your daughter, Agent DiNozzo," the Director of Mossad began coldly. After a brief pause and a quick glance at Gibbs, Tony nodded.

"Where is Tali?" the woman asked.

"With Agent Bishop and Miss Sciuto," Gibbs replied just as icily, when it seemed Tony had lost his voice.

The younger man looked over at Malachi and saw an unexpected sympathy. The Mossad Officer softly smiled and Tony felt some tension leave his soul.

"Good," Orli said. "Please bring her here so we can leave for Tel Aviv."

All the men looked at each other in disbelief, shocked by her coldness.

"Shouldn't we talk about this?" Vance asked sensing that Tony and Gibbs were going to explode.

"There is nothing to say," Orli replied. "Little Tali is not Agent DiNozzo's daughter, so there is no reason to leave her here."

"No reason?!" Tony finally exclaimed. "You…we all told her I'm her dad and she's getting used to me...us!"

"In one day?" Orli smirked.

"Yes!" Tony retorted. "Tali has already been traumatized enough for her entire life and now that she feels finally safe, you want to destroy her world again?" He took two steps towards the woman. "Do you have a heart or not?" he hissed, piercing her with his green eyes.

Orli winced and lost some her arrogance.

"Let's all calm down, please," Vance's calm voice broke the silence. "Director," he addressed Orli. "I think we should understand what is best for the child."

The woman took a few steps away from Tony then took a deep breath and turned to Vance. "What is best for Tali is for her to live in the only place she has known as her home since her birth. We will investigate and find her real father so she can finally live with her family."

"Director Elbaz," Gibbs said, his voice deceptively calm. "Ziva was sure that Tony was Tali's father."

"But he is not," the woman interrupted him.

"True, but Ziva wanted Tony to be Tali's dad. She knew that her daughter would be safe with him. She entrusted Tali to him and I think we should honor her wishes." He turned to his SFA, who still looked very upset and angry. "Tony's willing to accept this role and we all will help him."

"I am sure that Agent DiNozzo wants to keep Tali because she is the daughter of his soulmate," she slightly smirked but frowned when she saw both Tony and Gibbs shaking their head. "No?" she asked.

"No," Tony whispered. "But I want to honor Ziva's wish where this little girl is concerned."

"I am sorry, but you do not have custody of Tali or any rights to her. I still am her guardian so I will bring her back to Israel and find her father."

"No," Gibbs shook his head vehemently.

"Please, no," Tony choked out.

"Director Elbaz, please. Think about what you're going to do and, above all, what you'll put Tali through," Vance added, but the woman was clearly immovable.

The next few hours passed in the blink of an eye.

To Tony it felt like a cruel witch was playing with his life and feelings. He felt trapped in a crazy nightmare and disconnected from reality.

His brain and his heart refused to accept what was happening.

Gibbs was really worried about his young friend who looked completely detached from what was happening. He kept checking on Tony and, every time, he found his SFA's eyes locked onto Tali, who kept looking at him, searching for answers and reassurance.

Despite Director Elbaz trying to keep Tali by her side, the little girl kept running to Tony, grabbing his hand and hugging his leg.

Although Tony felt lost, he didn't show it around the little girl. He never lost his smile and kept joking and distracting her as much as possible.

Too quickly they found themselves at the airport.

"Boss, we can't let her take Tali away," Tony said, his distraught voice striking Gibbs' heart as physically as a blow.

They were watching Orli literally dragging Tali to the airplane, while little girl cried, kicked, refused to walk and kept pulling away from her.

"We can't do anything, Tony." Gibbs squeezed his shoulder as a lump sealed off his throat.

"I'm sorry, Tony," Vance whispered. "That little one might not be your own flesh and blood, but it's clear she loves you like a dad." He breathed deeply.

Tony just nodded and bit his lower lip as tears filled his eyes.

Suddenly, little Tali kicked Orli's shin and made her lose her balance. Trying to not fall down, the woman let go of Tali's hand and the child ran away as fast as her little legs allowed her.

She ran directly to Tony crying and calling "Daddy!" at the top of her lungs.

Tony crouched down and she landed in his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Daddy! No go!" she kept saying through the biggest tears Tony, Gibbs and Vance had ever seen. "Daddy me!" she clutched his jacket with her little fists and hid her face in his neck.

Tony couldn't stop the tears that were now rolling down on his cheeks as he hugged the little girl tightly and kept whispering reassuring words to her.

Gibbs and Vance looked at each other, grinning.

"Like mother like daughter," Gibbs said.

"Definitely," Vance replied as they both looked at Orli, who was trying to recompose with her officers' help.

After a few minutes, the Mossad Director reached them, assisted by Malachi, who couldn't hide an amused grin.

"Are you all right, Director?" Vance asked, only out of courtesy because he really disliked that woman and what she wanted to do.

Orli just nodded and took a deep breath. "Agent DiNozzo, please let me..." she began.

Hearing her voice made Tali turn toward her and try to kick her. "No!" she kept screaming as she tried to punch her.

Tony took a few steps away from Orli so Tali couldn't reach her. "Tali, no," he said softly. She looked at him. "No," he shook his head. "We do not kick people." He took her little fists in his hands. "No kick. No punch. Okay?"

The little girl frowned and they all saw Ziva's look in her eyes. She briefly looked Orli and then, pointing to her, she turned to Tony. "NO!" she shook her head firmly.

Tony just kissed her forehead and let her lay her head on his shoulder.

"Director, please. Let her live here with me. You said that you loved Ziva and this is what Ziva wanted," Tony said. "If you don't care about this little girl, please at least honor her mother's memory."

"Excuse me, Director." Malachi spoke up, making Orli turn. "I was Ziva's friend and, after Tali was born, we met a few times. She wanted her child to be happy and loved. Tony loves Tali. Everyone here loves her and wants to take care of her. She's safe here. Definitely safer that in our country," he added and caressed the little girl's cheek. "She has already lived through a tragedy. Let Tali be happy with people who love her: the family she and her mother have chosen for her."

"Please," Tony whispered, still cuddling Tali.

Orli stayed silent for a few minutes and then she nodded.

After all the men took a collective breath, Tony held out his hand, "Thank you," he choked out.

The older woman shook his hand and then ruffled Tali's curls. "You are a very lucky girl, Tali," she smiled before leaving.

Tony shook Malachi's hand and thanked him, then the Mossad team left DC.

Tony's apartment.

Tony and Gibbs were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Tali was sitting on the carpet, happily playing with a doll Gibbs had bought her on the way home.

"'Ya think I'll be able to take care of her and..." Tony looked over at Tali and the rest of his sentence petered out.

"Have you own life?" Gibbs finished, receiving a nod from the younger man. "I don't see why you can't," he answered as he stood up and went to the kitchen to refill his mug. "I've been thinking about it and I have an offer for you."

Tony just raised his eyebrows and motioned for Gibbs to continue. "Remember that you can say no and you won't get hurt," he grinned. "My house is too big for just one person and you know that I only use the first floor and the basement."

Tony nodded.

"I was thinking that we could renovate the second floor: set up an apartment for you and Tali and build stairs outside, so you'll have your own access. We can take care of her together but you'll still be able to have your privacy." Gibbs looked down at the little girl who was combing the doll's hair. "She could play in the garden and stay with me if you've a date," he grinned.

Tony stared at him openmouthed. "Are you sure, Gibbs? I mean, you love your privacy and your lonely life. If we come to live with you—"

"Maybe I don't like my lonely life anymore," the older man interjected.

"Gibbs." Tony shifted on the chair uncomfortably. "Upstairs there's... I mean, there's Kelly's room and I don't want—"

"It's time that that room is filled with toys, laughs and dreams again, Tony," Gibbs softly smiled as a veil of melancholy blurred his vision.

He looked down and met Tali's eyes. She smiled at him and he felt his heart jump with happiness and sadness at the same time. "I'm sure, Tony," he choked out, caressing the little girl's soft curls.

Tony just nodded, too overwhelmed by Gibbs' kindness.

Five weeks later.

Gibbs was in his basement sanding a rocking horse, when he heard a sweet voice calling him: "Bibbis? Whe'e you?"

"I'm down here, Tali," Gibbs called back.

"No down. Daddy say no," she stated, peeking out of the door.

Gibbs put down the sandpaper and made his way upstairs. Once he was on the landing, Tali immediately reached out to him. "Up!" she jumped.

The grey-haired man picked her up, locked the door behind them and walked to the kitchen. "Daddy's right," he told her. "It's dangerous going down the stairs alone." He gave her some apple juice. "Where's daddy?"

"Out," she pointed to the backyard so, juice in hand, they walked outside.

Tony heard them coming and turned. "Gibbs, what do think you about pizza for dinner?"

"Piz'a! Piz'aaaaaa!" Tali clapped her hands happily.

"I take it as a yes," Tony laughed and was soon joined by Gibbs.

"We could eat outside," the older man proposed as he put Tali down so she could play with her favorite pink and green ball.

"No, Tali. That's daddy's pizza. This is yours," Gibbs explained for the fourth time placing a piece of cheese pizza in front of her.

"No," she pouted. "I eat that." She pointed her little finger at Tony's plate.

"Sweetheart, this pizza has peperoni, sausage and extra cheese. You're not going to like it," Tony tried to explain her, with no success.

Both men looked at each other, helpless.

"Ok, I'll give you a bite so you can see that it's not good." Tony cut a small piece from his slice and handed it over.

"She's so stubborn," Gibbs rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

Tony and Gibbs were ready to see her spit it out, but she surprised them.

"Nom nom! Mo'e!" she opened her little hand and smiled, her mouth all covered with tomato sauce.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think that she's your daughter," Gibbs grinned.

Tony grinned back as he gave Tali another small piece of his pizza.

The little girl took a bite of it and then blew a kiss to her daddy and her Uncle Gibbs.

After many years, Gibbs' neighbors could finally hear a family laughing and happily chatting again.

The End.

I hope you liked this 'alternative ending' ;)