The evening before the barbecue.

Tony put Jacob to bed and then went to the family room to join Faith and Tilly.

"Tilly," said Faith, "There's something Daddy and I need to talk to you about."

"It's all right," said Tilly. "Daddy told me. And I was sad but I decided to be brave."

"Daddy told you?" said Faith with a glare directed at Tony.

"Yes," said Tilly blithely, "About Uncle Gee."

"Uncle Gee?" asked Faith.

"Yes. About him going to work on a boat … I mean, ship," said Tilly.

"Ah," said Faith, "That's what he told you about?" She nodded an apology to Tony.

"Yes, but Daddy said that Uncle Gee would send me lots of postcards – like he did before when he was on a boat, I mean ship."

"And he'll be able to Skype," said Tony.

"So, I'm sad," said Tilly, "But I'll be brave."

"Good girl," praised Faith, "But that isn't what Daddy and I want to talk to you about."

"Is it about the puppy?" asked Tilly.

Tony and Faith exchanged anxious looks, they had hoped that the puppy had been forgotten.

"Er, no," said Tony.

"Good," said Tilly.

"Good?" queried Faith.

"Yes. Lilly's got a new puppy …"

"We know," said Tony. He was still slightly cross that Lilly's parents had broken ranks with the other parents and succumbed to the demand for a puppy.

"She's called Maisie … and she's very cute and fluffy."

"We know," said Faith. Tilly had been at pains to tell them all about the cuteness and the fluffiness.

"But she did something naughty in Lilly's Daddy's shoe," said Tilly.

"Eww," said Faith.

"And he didn't know until he put his foot in it," said Tilly informatively.

"That must not have been very nice," said Tony secretly thinking that it had served him right.

"And I wouldn't like a puppy doing anything naughty in my shoe," said Tilly. "So, I don't think I want a puppy anymore."

Faith's training in seeing all sides of the argument came to the fore, "Well, darling, not all dogs do … that in people's shoes. And not all the time."

Tony shook his head at his wife, anxious that they might inadvertently argue themselves into having a dog. "Well, if you're sure," he said, "You're probably right. We don't want icky things in our shoes, do we?"

Tilly shook her head in agreement and Faith stood down from arguing the merits of dogs as pets.

"Can I go play now?" said Tilly.

"Not yet," said Tony, "Like Mommy said, we have something to talk to you about."

"OK," said Tilly agreeably. She obviously had a clear conscience as a talk with her parents held no fears for her.

"You see," began Faith.

"You see," said Tony, "Mommy and Daddy have got new jobs …"

"…in London," said Faith.

"Is that near?" asked Tilly.

"No," said Tony, "It's not very near."

"It's in England," explained Faith.

Tilly still looked a little puzzled so Faith produced an atlas and showed her where Washington was and where London was.

"That's a long way, isn't it?" asked Tilly.

"Yes, it is," said Tony.

"How long will it take you to get to work?" asked Tilly.

"Well," said Faith, "We won't be able to do it in a day."

"What will you do?" asked Tilly.

"We'll have to move," said Tony, "So we can get to work quicker."

"It'll be exciting," said Faith, "London is a very nice place."

"It has parks," said Tony.

"And the Queen of England lives there," said Faith.

"We'll find a nice house," said Tony.

Tilly stayed silent as her parents listed the attractions of London and then, to their horror, big tears began to form in her eyes. "Where will I live?" she finally managed to say.

"What?" asked Faith.

"What?" asked Tony.

"Where will I live when you go to London?" she asked.

"With us," said Tony. "Where did you think you'd be living?"

"You said you and Mommy had new jobs and that you'd have to move," said Tilly, "You never said that I'd be coming with you!"

"Of course you'll be with us," said Faith. "We would never leave you behind."

"Uncle Gibbs might let me live with him," said Tilly thoughtfully, "But I'd rather go with you!"

"I think that would be better," said Faith gravely.

"Do they have schools in England?" asked Tilly.

"Yes," said Tony.

"Oh. And will I have to go to one?"

"Yes," said Faith.

"Do they have ducks in the parks?"

"Hundreds. Thousands," said Tony recklessly. "You can take pictures and send them to people back here."

"Is London where Consie's going to be living?" asked Tilly.

"Yes," said Faith.

"And it's nearer to Mommy's family in Denmark," said Tony.

"And Daddy has family living in England," said Faith.

Tony winced at this but smiled brightly.

"I'll miss Lilly and Milly," said Tilly sadly.

"I know," said Faith, "But you'll make new friends."

"I will?"

"Yes, you will," said Tony, "And it will be an adventure to live in a new country."

"It will?"

"Yes," said Faith, "It will. We promise."

"OK," said Tilly. "Is Jakie coming too?"

"Yes," said Tony.

"Oh," said Tilly in a tone which her parents couldn't decide was relief or resignation. "Can I take my toys with me?"

"Yes," said Faith.

"When are we going?"

"August. We want to be settled in so we can find you a new school to start in September. That way you'll start with other children," said Tony.

"What language do they speak there?" asked Tilly in sudden anxiety.

"They speak English," said Faith.

"Sort of," said Tony, "You'll understand most of what they say."

"Promise?"

"Pinkie promise," said Tony, holding out his hand.

"I think I'll go tell my toys," said Tillie,

"Good idea," said Faith. "Daddy will come in soon and tell you your bedtime story."

"Can it be one about the Queen?" asked Tilly.

"Sure," said Tony.

"And her corgis," said Tilly.

"No problem," said Tony wondering if he had time to phone Ducky and ask for corgi stories.

Tilly walked towards her bedroom but then ran back to hug her parents, "I'm glad you're taking me with you," she said. "I'd have missed you … lots!"

NCISNCIS

Next day at the barbecue.

"So, what else is it that you've got to tell me about?" asked Gibbs.

Tony lifted Jacob onto his lap and Faith, sensing that the moment had come, came to join them.

"Well," began Tony, "You know that Kate is going to FLETC?"

"Sure, you told me."

"She's going there because there's a vacancy," said Tony.

"I figured. Didn't think she was going there just in case," said Gibbs.

"There's a vacancy because Chris is leaving," said Tony.

"He coming to the Navy Yard?"

"Yes. Working the Voss case made him realise he missed being an investigator," said Tony.

"Which team is he going to?" asked Gibbs. "Not ours? I know there's a gap but he's too experienced to be a junior agent and Stan's been promised the Senior Field Agent slot."

"He's going to be Assistant Director," said Tony.

"Assistant Director?" said Gibbs. "I thought that was going to be your job?"

"He'll be a good fit," said Tony.

"Didn't say he wouldn't but so would you," said Gibbs grumpily.

"Maybe," shrugged Tony, "But I'd find it hard not to interfere in your team. You know how I kept on hanging around when I was meant to be doing the job before."

"Then stay as you are," said Gibbs. "No need to move on."

"It's tempting," said Tony.

"It really is," said Faith.

"But we told Tilly last night," said Tony, "And I don't want to think that was all for nothing."

"Why would Tilly be worried?" asked Gibbs.

Tony winced at this evidence of Gibbs' sharpness.

"Well?" said Gibbs, "Your daughter wouldn't be upset that you and Faith are changing jobs." He saw Jacob reaching out to hug Faith and recognised that his empathy detector had swung into action. "And you can't tell me that you're not both upset about something, look at Jacob!"

"We're not upset," said Tony.

"But we are sad," said Faith.

"We've thought about it a lot … and the timing seems right for both of us," said Tony.

"What are these new jobs then?" asked Gibbs.

"My law firm is opening a new division in London," said Faith. "It's going to work with US companies in the UK to make sure they know what UK laws they have to obey and which US laws still apply to them. Same in reverse for UK companies working in the US."

"And?" asked Gibbs.

"And they want Faith to head up the new division," said Tony.

"The timing was right," said Faith, "It's almost as if it was meant to be."

"And what are you going to do, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs, "Unless you're joining the law firm too?"

"Director Morrow knew I was hesitating about the Assistant Director job," said Tony, "So he offered me a choice."

"Go on … you spin out a story like Ducky does," groused Gibbs.

"You're not even team lead yet and you're throwing your weight around," groused Tony in turn. "OK, so the Director suggested either the Assistant Director or the NCIS office in London."

"London?" said Gibbs.

"Sure … why so surprised, it's where my wife will be working. Might not be an attraction to you but it is to me," said Tony with a cheesy grin at Faith.

"You know what I mean," said Gibbs, "It's not a very big office. Not exactly a step up for you, is it?"

"But he'll be near me, Jethro," said Faith, "That will make up for a lot, won't it?"

"Cut it out," said Gibbs sensing he was being teased.

"I'm disappointed," said Tony with mock regret but then he caught sight of Gibbs' growing belligerence and raised a hand in surrender, "OK. The Director's reorganizing the offices outside the USA. The Europe and African Field Office is being split into a Europe and an African Office. The Europe office will be run out of an expanded London office and I'll be in charge of it. There's a plan to improve liaison with other criminal agencies, it's exciting."

"Tom suggested it just as my Boss suggested the London posting," said Faith, "Like I said, the timing was perfect."

"We probably wouldn't have moved for just one of the jobs but for both … well, it seemed too good a chance to miss," said Tony.

"How long will you be gone for?" asked Gibbs.

"Initial posting is for two years with an option for another five," said Tony.

"Tilly will be in 7th grade by then, time for her to settle down," said Faith.

"So you're coming back?" asked Gibbs.

"Definitely," said Tony.

"We love this house so we're renting it out. We'll come back to it," said Faith.

"Apart from anything else, we can't leave Cherry-Pie for ever," said Tony.

"We will miss you, you're a big part of our family," said Faith. She stood up, kissed Jethro on the cheek and gave Jacob back to his father before walking away.

"Especially your DIY skills," said Tony. "Oops, and that glare! Seriously, Gibbs, it's been a blast! Couldn't have done it without you."

"You'll do a good job," conceded Gibbs. "And I need to thank you, Tony. Without you, I'd have turned into a grumpy old bastard."

Tony looked surprised, "You mean you haven't?"

"Did I ever tell you that I sometimes feel this overwhelming desire to give you a head-slap?" asked Gibbs.

"No," said Tony, "But somehow it doesn't surprise me!"

"This isn't goodbye," said Gibbs.

"Absolutely not," said Tony. "I'm not leaving NCIS. I'm sure our paths will cross."

"I hear the sailing's good in UK waters," said Gibbs.

"Yes."

They sat in silence for a few moments before Tony stood up to go and talk to the other guests. He put his hand on Gibbs' shoulder for a moment and then turned away. Jacob wriggled in his arms and Tony grinned,

"Looks like Jacob feels he's needed here! Shall I leave him?"

Gibbs shrugged, "I guess it wouldn't hurt."

AN; there we are, done at last and no more pesky cliff hangers! Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in this story.

It has been great fun to write the Upside Down version but I think, having split up the team and sent the DiNozzos to England, it is time to mark this series as complete.